LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Poll Trust Grant Helps Expand Adult Day Program Facilities


Lamorinda Adult Respite Care's expanded program room Photo provided

Lamorinda Adult Respite Care (LARC) hosted a reception March 16 to dedicate its expanded space to Earnest and Lola Poll - longtime Orinda residents who established a trust to benefit programs serving Orinda seniors with chronic illnesses. Originally from Hungary, the Polls moved to Orinda in 1949, opening Village Cleaners and becoming deeply involved in the community. Earnest passed away in 1982; Lola in 1987.

Trustee Erik Anderson of the Earnest and Lola Poll Trust presented LARC with an $84,500 grant to expand and remodel its facilities located at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in Orinda. The grant enabled LARC to double the size of its program space in order to serve more local families. LARC is a non-profit, state-licensed, social adult day program for those with Alzheimer's and other related dementias. The program began in 1997 as a grassroots effort to help a fellow Holy Shepherd church member caring for her Alzheimer's stricken husband in her home. Through private donations, fundraisers and countless volunteer hours, the support of the church and 'word of mouth' advertising, LARC has grown to be a valuable community resource for the hundreds of families in the Lamorinda area who care for ailing loved ones; the program offers respite for caregivers by providing exemplary care and stimulating activities for their loved ones. It is among the very few licensed adult-day programs in California that receives no public funding.

For information about LARC programs and services, visit www.holyshepherd.org or call (925) 254-3465.